Page 25 of Rocky Mountain Devil

So instead, Rafe tossed the rake aside and took aim at the noxious weeds around him. He laid into them with a great deal of enthusiasm as he imagined mowing down Jeff at the ankles then piling everything into a massive bonfire and burning it all to hell.

Laurel took the early lunch slot and arranged to meet her friend Nicole for a quick catch-up. The past few days had to have been exhausting, and Laurel was worried about her and Nic’s boyfriend.

She ran the last few paces to nab her arm before Nic entered the café.

“Hey, how’re you doing?” she asked as she caught Nicole in a firm hug.

“Okay.” The dark shadows under Nicole’s eyes were new, but she smiled as they grabbed a table. “Troy’s champing at the bit to get out of the hospital already. Looks like maybe even tomorrow.”

“Wow, that’s fast. I mean, that’s great, but…”

“I guess he’s banged and bruised but only partially broken, so yeah, four days and he’ll be out.” Nicole pushed aside the menu on the tabletop and leaned back in the booth. She covered her mouth as a yawn escaped. “I’m taking a couple days off. Troy insists on moving in with me, so I want to try and get as much done before he’s home, or else he’ll overdo it.”

“I can give you a hand,” Laurel offered. She squeezed Nicole’s fingers. “There’s a whole lot to celebrate in what you just said. The fact he’s healthy enough to want to doanythingis a miracle.”

“I know.”

They gave their lunch order then Nicole turned on her with a stern look. “And nowyou. What the heck is going on, girl?”

Oh, me? Just dealing with a new boyfriend, and an old one, and a whole lot of other baggage.

She didn’t say that out loud, though. It was far too much to drop at one time, especially since Nicole was facing her own troubles. Instead Laurel shared the part Nic was probably most interested in.

“Rafe Coleman’s back in town.”

“Yes… That’s part of the news I heard. I was wondering more about the kissing booth you were running at the fairgrounds yesterday.”

Laurel snorted. “Nice try, but there was only one kiss, and it was just a welcome back between friends.”

Instant reaction. Her face went so hot she was sure her cheeks were fire-engine red.

Nicole tilted her head to one side and looked across the table with amusement. “Sothat’swhat happens when you lie.”

“Shut up.”

“Awww, you can do better than that.” Nicole rested her elbows on the table, eyes bright with interest. “Tell me all the dirty, dirty details. You and Rafe? I never would’ve guessed.”

“We’re just starting to date.” Curiosity struck again. “Rafe and I have been friends since way back. High school and before. Didn’t you know that?”

Nicole looked slightly embarrassed. “We’re good friends now, but back in school, I didn’t really know you were alive. Or that you were cool.”

“I’ve always been cool,” Laurel insisted. She pointed to her face. “See? No blushing. Therefore, not a lie. Therefore, I am cool, and always have been.”

Her friend laughed, looking a whole lot less stressed than even moments earlier. Nicole smiled as she spoke, the words tinged with amusement but also sincerity. “I’m glad you’re dating. I was getting worried there for a while that you were pining afterme.”

“Well, if I did lean that way, you’d be the first to know,” Laurel told her seriously. “But since I don’t, you no longer have to worry about trying to set me up.”

“Huh.” Nicole pretended to pout. “But I’ve got a perfectly good twin brother who’s single. What am I supposed to do with him?”

Laurel shrugged. “I thought you were trying to set me up with that handsome firefighter you’re keeping on a string.”

Nicole waved a hand. “Back to the more interesting details, tell me about Rafe.”

“As if there’s anything I could tell you that you don’t already know.” Still, Nicole waited patiently, so Laurel went on. “He’s the youngest in the Coleman clan. He works at the Angel Ranch, and we’ve been friends since we were five. There’s not much else to say.”

“What about he’s tall, blond and built?” Nicole’s grin widened. “Yeah, I see that smile on your face. He’s onefineyoung man, and I approve.”

Hewasmighty fine. And he was a good friend.